| 2009 starts on an auspicious note with the third Joburg Open. In a sport that reveres tradition, and boasts events that have endured for decades and longer, three years is not much of a pedigree. But it is a start, and a solid one at that.
The Joburg Open is not only a new tournament, it’s a new-generation tournament. While it is obviously true to the finest traditions of golf, and a credit to them, it is also in many ways a break from the past.
Golf, one of the most challenging and rewarding of sporting pursuits, should be accessible to everyone. The Joburg Open was conceived to take the game to a wider audience. It would do this, in partnership with the City of Johannesburg and the Province of Gauteng, by creating a broad sense of ownership of the tournament. I believe we are well on our way to achieving this.
Anyone who attended the first two tournaments will confirm that they were more open, more informal and more inclusive than other local and international events. This was no accident. It was achieved by positioning the event as a world-class tournament in a world-class African city to which all its residents and guests are unreservedly welcome.
The Joburg Open is also different from other tournaments in that one of its important objectives is to fund the Development Driving Range and Golf Academy near Alexandra. This range will remove one of the biggest barriers to entry to the game: it will allow beginners of all ages to swing a club and discover – before having to spend money on equipment and membership – whether they have a liking and an aptitude for golf. The Academy will train youngsters in all aspects of golf club management.
I’m proud of the Joburg Open. I hope that you, as a lover of golf and a citizen of South Africa, will be too.
Leon Plutsick,
CEO, easyGolf Worldwide | 
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